CVE-2017-6043 in VTScada
Summary
by MITRE
A Resource Consumption issue was discovered in Trihedral VTScada Versions prior to 11.2.26. The client does not properly validate the input or limit the amount of resources that are utilized by an attacker, which can be used to consume more resources than are available.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/19/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-6043 represents a critical resource consumption flaw in Trihedral VTScada software versions prior to 11.2.26. This issue stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the client application that fails to properly constrain resource utilization by malicious actors. The vulnerability manifests when the system processes unvalidated input data without implementing adequate limits on resource allocation, creating an avenue for attackers to systematically exhaust available system resources through crafted malicious inputs.
This weakness falls under the CWE-400 category of Uncontrolled Resource Consumption, specifically classified as a resource exhaustion vulnerability that can lead to denial of service conditions. The technical flaw exists in the client-side processing logic where input validation routines are insufficiently implemented to monitor and restrict the amount of memory, CPU cycles, or other system resources that individual operations can consume. Attackers can exploit this by sending specially crafted inputs that trigger resource allocation patterns which gradually or immediately consume all available system resources, effectively rendering the affected system unusable.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-6043 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it can severely disrupt industrial control systems and supervisory control and data acquisition environments where VTScada is deployed. In critical infrastructure settings such as power plants, water treatment facilities, or manufacturing processes, this vulnerability can lead to catastrophic system failures that may result in production halts, safety hazards, or operational disruptions. The attack vector typically involves sending malformed or excessively large data packets that cause the client application to allocate memory or processing resources without proper bounds checking, potentially leading to system crashes or complete service unavailability.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers Network Denial of Service, and represents a common pattern in industrial control systems where legacy applications lack proper resource management and input sanitization. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in operational technology environments where systems operate continuously and cannot afford unexpected downtime. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Trihedral VTScada version 11.2.26 or later, implementing network segmentation to limit access to affected systems, and deploying monitoring solutions to detect anomalous resource consumption patterns. Additionally, input validation controls should be strengthened through proper parameter limits and resource allocation constraints to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications within the industrial control environment.